"I'm so glad to see you," said the lady, with an additional graciousness designed, Julian imagined, to set the youthful stranger at her ease.
The unexpectedly high-pitched note, however, upon which Miss Sandiloe off-handedly replied, "Oh, thanks!" did not indicate shyness.
Julian viewed it as an example of the law of cause and effect that his wife's next observation was made in tones that savoured less of kindly welcome and more of rather distant patronage.
"I am always anxious to get to know all the members of the College staff, and have them out here if I possibly can. I take a great interest in the College. In fact, I'm on the committee of management."
"Are you?" said Miss Sandiloe indifferently. "What topping flowers those are!"
She thrust her face into the fragrant mass which Lady Rossiter had just left.
"You must all come into the garden, when it's a little cooler."
Lady Rossiter addressed herself to Miss Farmer.
"Meanwhile it's too bad of me to keep you standing in this hot room. Come into the morning-room."
Julian fancied that Miss Farmer, heated and wearied, and with dusty patent-leather shoes that creaked as she walked, and bore a large crack across each, as though they were too tight, cast a rather wistful look at the large, beautifully-shaded room of which they had penetrated no further than the threshold.